Somatic Diversification of Immune Responses

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-IX

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2. The Role of Promoter-Intron Interactions in Directing Hypermutation

   • D. B. Winter, N. Sattar, P. J. Gearhart

   Pages 1-10

3. Somatic Hypermutation of Immunoglobulin Genes is Linked to Transcription

   • U. Storb, A. Peters, E. Klotz, N. Kim, H. M. Shen, K. Kage et al.

   Pages 11-19

4. On the Possible Role of Natural Reverse Genetics in the V Gene Loci

   • R. V. Blanden, H. S. Rothenfluth, E. J. Steele

   Pages 21-32

5. Characteristics of Somatic Hypermutation of Human Immunoglobulin Genes

   • R. A. Insel, W. S. Varade

   Pages 33-44

6. Antibody Diversification in the Rabbit: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

   • D. K. Lanning, K. L. Knight

   Pages 45-57

7. Rabbit Appendix: A Site of Development and Selection of the B Cell Repertoire

   • R. Pospisil, R. G. Mage

   Pages 59-70

8. Affinity Maturation of the Primary Response by V Gene Diversification

   • D. M. Tarlinton, A. Light, G. J. V. Nossal, K. G. C. Smith

   Pages 71-83

9. Lymphocyte Development and Selection in Germinal Centers

   • J. Przylepa, C. Himes, G. Kelsoe

   Pages 85-104

10. Somatic Mutagenesis and Evolution of Memory B Cells

    • L. J. Wysocki, A. H. Liu, P. K. Jena

    Pages 105-131

11. Repertoire Diversification of Primary vs Memory B Cell Subsets

    • N. R. Klinman

    Pages 133-148

12. Plasticity Under Somatic Mutation in Antigen Receptors

    • T. B. Kepler, S. Bartl

    Pages 149-162

13. Theoretical Limits to Massive Receptor Editing in Immature B Cells

    • D. Nemazee

    Pages 163-171

14. Clone: A Monte-Carlo Computer Simulation of B Cell Clonal Expansion, Somatic Mutation, and Antigen-Driven Selection

    • M. J. Shlomchik, P. Watts, M. G. Weigert, S. Litwin

    Pages 173-197

15. Somatic Mutation in Ectothermic Vertebrates: Musings on Selection and Origins

    • L. Du Pasquier, M. Wilson, A. S. Greenberg, M. F. Flajnik

    Pages 199-216

16. Back Matter

    Pages 217-225

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Discovery of the mechanism for V(D)J hypermutation remains a basic goal of immunology despite the best efforts of many labo­ ratories. The existence of catalyzed, site-specific mutation and its exploitation for the somatic evolution of lymphocytes are re­ markable adaptations, yet since the discovery of hypermutation in 1970 (see cover), much hard work has generated little. Indeed, our knowledge of what is probably absolutely required for the mutator's action can be succinctly expressed: /g gene enhancers. Table 1 of Winter et a!.'s chapter puts into a historical perspec­ tive how our notions of the mutator have changed over the years. Despite these modest gains, most of us feel that this is the best of times. Our work has not only shown us what the mutator is not, it has also, like an artist's preliminary sketch, defined the questions and experiments we must face without diminishing the potential for new biology. In short, it is great fun to toil against a significant and enigmatic problem.

• Antigen
• Antikörper
• antibody
• cell
• development
• evolution
• gene
• genetics
• immune response
• immunity
• immunoglobulin
• immunology
• lymphocytes
• mutation
• transcription

• Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

  Garnett Kelsoe

• Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, USA

  Martin F. Flajnik

Policies and ethics